C-Forum

Hello, I'm new to open boating... I am looking for people in the central PA area to boat with and/or learn from... Does anyone know, am I too late in the season for clinics, roll sessions, etc.? I appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.

Welcome to C-Boats!

There is a large contingent of open boaters in PA. Your best bet would be to join the PA Creekers Facebook page for info from both open boaters and butt boaters. Just on this board, there are about twenty Pennsylvanians that I can think of, myself included. I'm living in Allentown at the moment.

Hopefully it rains hard tonight, so we can all go boating tomorrow

Chris, thanks so much. I will definitely check that out.
--Mark

Hello and Welcome,

There are a fair few quality open boaters in PA that are ready and willing to help.

Where in PA are you located? We are spread across the state from Pittsburgh to Philly and many in between and we are headed into the cooler months where there is more water

As a side note, how is it that I have not before Cheeks post been aware of a PA Creekers facebook group? I am from PA and even if I am not a Creeker someone could have invited me.

Aaron, Pa Creekers is not a public facebook group so if you are not in it you don't see friends of friends activity or who is even in the group. It's primarily a spot to hook up creeking in PA, Creek beta and trips departing from our Pa Areas. Its private so if you want to hook up a day to ditch work nobody but boaters will know.

Mark, I'd be happy to help you on the water. Do you have a canoe? If so what? I might be taking my daughter to a slalom out in central PA area soon. I'd be happy to give you a quick roll lesson. I probably could bring an extra canoe out too. There will be rolling sessions that I'll be attending for Lvwhitewater.com in a couple months and instructing for anyone that wants to work on rolling and stroke technique. Private mail me here if you want to get more info.

Hey Mark, I'm a new open boater in the Lehigh Valley and am also looking to hook up with someone who wouldn't mind giving a noob some pointers. Maybe we could get a small group of new boaters together and see if anyone is willing to come help us out?

Also, there are roll classes every Satruday and Sunday evening all winter in Allentown and Easton. Check the lvwhitewater.com and lehighvalleycanoeclub.org sites.

Chris / Mark
Nice to have you on Cboats.
There are a lot of us here in PA and spread across the state. Check out the race circuit that Creeker mentioned. Always someone there to help with strokes and such.. from hard core racers to weekend warriors... and all really freindly and helpful.
I'm on the west coast of the state (Burgh) and suggest that you might want to check out TRPC's Slip and Turkey Bash paddling clinics next year. One is in early June the other in early August. Inexpensive and tend to be made up of a fair number of folks in open boats with different skill sets... all to work on river tech and having a good time. Paul C.

Both creeker and I have added our names to the short list of instructors in Pa. He's more of a fast track guide, and can get people rolling quick. Ill be doing workshops on stroke Technique and Intro classes with Lehigh Valley Canoe and Kayak this fall and winter.
Harrisburg club has a couple of great instructors as well.

Mark / Chris,

I can't provide much face to face support as I am a long way from you, but I can welcome you to Cboats. So...

Welcome to CBoats!

Mark/Chris

I am in Easton and would be happy to head out locally. What runs are your comfortable with at this point?

I can be reached at wid97 at rcn dotcom. Otherwise, I will be at the roll sessions this winter at Lafeyette (LVCKC). Be warned - large OC's cannot fit throught the airlock at the LVW roll sessions in Allentown.

Mark

I fit a detonator through the airlock....certainly all the plastic creeker fit in the airlock for the pool bubble.

Well hel|fire, if you're talking about getting dem ol plastic tubs in sure, but some of us chooze to paddle high performance long boats got dammit

Mark/Chris, I'm going to the Tohickon today for a low flow run, if you want to meet me at the take out, I should be there at 5:30. If you're interested, 4eight4 55three 21seven3

Chris

**note to mods: since when has "hel|fire" been censored. You do realize that is one of the most important canoeing epitaphs???? ****

The airlock: Another advantage of owning an Ion!

Thanks, Cheeks, I sooooo wish I could get on the Toh today, but I have a work obligation until late. Luckily the work obligation is to take a bunch of kids hiking, but still... I hope it rains on a weekend soon!

(Btw, I don't know if you remember, but last spring I met you during OTP's guide training. I was the older woman, white helmet, blue pfd, who trained for a couple of weekends and then had to quit on account of being crushed by dang ol' work obligations. I hated to stop training--I was having a blast. Some days I seriously want to quit all or some of my three jobs and live the guide life.)

@MarkW, thanks! I can bomb down anything from II to straightforward III; I would do the Tohickon if I could, and I'd be comfortable on the Lehigh or similar runs. Technique is what I lack, especially ferrying and eddying. Hope to connect with you soon!

Chris

I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome and advice, they are greatly appreciated.

Chris D--sounds great. I am from Altoona and am willing to drive. FYI, there is a release at the Stony Creek this Sat/Sun... check out Bens creek canoe club for more info. The canyon section can be a handful for a newbie depending on level , but the lower section is still fun and beginner friendly. a lil something for everybody. There is usually a good number of open boaters paddling the canyon.
--Mark

Cheek-- thanks for the invite I was stuck at work all day Ill have to catch ya next time